CHIN & YCW…At Building Careers in Heritage Martin Lajoie, Product Manager Virtual Exhibits & YCW Internship Coordinator

Overview What is CHIN CHIN & YCW How it Works Outcomes Success Stories

What is CHIN? The Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) Special operating agency of Canadian Heritage, since 1972 As an active network of heritage organizations, we engage national and international audiences in Canadian heritage through leadership and innovation in digital content, partnerships and lifelong learning opportunities. ___

CHIN & YCW Active partner in the delivery of YCW…At Building Careers in Heritage component Providing ~150 Canadian youth with unique / concrete opportunities since 1996 Contributing to YCW’s success ___

How it Works… Internships are allocated to employers participating in executively produced virtual exhibits for the Virtual Museum of Canada –average 18 internships per fiscal year 10 national & 8 international –employers are heritage institutions / museums and the private sector –application form submitted to CHIN –managed via contract (CHIN and employer)

Employer selects intern –via human resources offices, Colleges, Universities, newspaper adds Monitoring the internship –Forms to be completed by intern and employer (at start, during and end of internship) –Follow-up calls with intern and employer Direct contact with the employer and intern –CHIN acts as delivery organization –quality monitoring, ensure relevant experience / learning opportunities –facilitate solid international experiences (Expo2000, The British Museum, Earth Summit in South Africa) ___

Outcomes Youth develop and apply their skills with knowledgeable employers participating in innovative, executively produced virtual exhibits for the Virtual Museum of Canada –research (as related to heritage) –exhibit production (physical & virtual) –collections work (database development & implementation, records management) –multimedia development (as related to heritage) Interns were involved with over 35 high profile virtual exhibits International interns have traveled to more than 30 countries

Interns gained heritage experience with over 250 institutions / employers in Canada and abroad Following their internship, an estimated 70% have found employment and 30% have returned to school to further their education Total sponsorship from employers, hosts and grants since 1996: over $1 million ___

Success stories! Butterflies North and South Haida Spirits of the Sea Perspectives: Women Artists in North America Yukon Photographers Explore Herschel Island! Panoramas: The North American Landscape in Art Staying in Tune

virtualmuseum.ca